Separator for containers



June 10, 1930. 1 c, BRIERLEY 1,763,416

'SEPARATOR FOR CONTAINERS Filed March 25, 1929 Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE CLIFTON BRIERLE Y, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO TASTY BAK- ING- COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA i SEPARATOR FOR, CONTAINERS Application filed March 23, 1929. Serial No. 349,473.

This invention relates to separators for containers and especially those contamers 1n which merchandise is packed in two layers.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel, simple and inexpensive form of separator unit, which, when placed in the bottom of the container, functions to separate the individual articles of merchandise of the lower layer and also to partially separate the merchandise of the upper layer from the merchandise of the lower layer, a second separator unit being placed in the container above the first separator unit, the second unit functioning to complete the separation of the merchandise of the upperlayer from the merchandise of the lower layer and also functioning to separate the individual articles of merchandise of the upper layer.

The construction of the separator unit made in accordance with the principles of my invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter,

referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical form of container, adapted to receive two layers of merchandise;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a separator unit made in accordance with the principles of my invention, being shown in the position it assumes when employed in the lower layer;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second separator unit of the same construction as the unit shown in Fig. 2, shown in the positionit assumes when employed in the upper layer; and

, Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation of the container sh owing the two separator units in place and cooperating to separate the articles of merchandise of the upper layer from the articles of merchandise of the lower layer.

The container shown in Fig. 1 is of the collapsible type, being made from a single sheet of material and comprising a bottom 1, vertically extending end walls 2, 2, a front -wall 3 and a back wall 1, all of which are formedintegral with the bottom 1.

The back wall 4 is provided with a forwardly extending end flap 5 at each of its ends. The front wall 3 is provided at each end with a rearwardly extending end flap 6.

Each forwardly extending end flap 5 is provided with a slot 7 which is adapted to receive an ear 8 formed on the adjacent rearwardly extending end flap 6. By this means the ele ments of the container are locked together. The rear wall 4 also has a cover 9 formed integral therewith. The end walls 2, 2 are provided with top flaps 10, 10, which when the container is packed are adapted to be folded inwardly. On the free edge of the cover 9 is a front flap 11 which is adapted to enter the container between the front wall 3 and the adjacent ends of the inturned flaps The separator units shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each comprise a pair of longitudinal side members 15, 15?, which are spaced apart by transverse partition members 16, 16. In the present instance, the partition members are each provided with lateral extensions 17,

which are secured to the side members 15, 15

in any suitable manner, for example, by gluing. j

The longitudinal side member 15 of each separator unit is provided with a flap or shelf member 20 which extends inwardly of and substantially half-Way across the separator unit from the side member to which it is attached toward the other of the said side members, resting against the adjacent edges of the transverse partition members 16, 16.

As shown in Fig. 4:, the container and the pair of separator units, when the container is packed, maintain the same general relationship as that indicated in Figs/1, 2 and 3. In packing the container, one of the separator units is first placed in the container with the face having the flap 2O uppermost, the opposite face of the separator unit rest" ing on the bottom 1. i

The flap 20 is then turned up into a plane coincident with the plane of the longitudinal side member 15*, to which it is attached. Ar-

ticles of merchandise as, m are then placed in the compartments 25, 25 formed between the partitions 16, 16, and between the partiions 16, 16 and the adjacent end members 2, 2 of the container, thus forming the lower layer of merchandise in the container.

The flap 20 of the previously inserted separator unit is then turned down until it rests on the upper edges of the partitions 16, 16. The second separator unit is then placed in the container with the flap 20 thereof down and toward the side of the container opposite to theside occupied by the fia of the previously inserted separator, t 1e sald flap 20 of the newly inserted separator unit resting In this manner the flaps 20, 20 of the re-.

spective separator units lie side by sideand together form ashelf which is adapted to support the merchandise, of the upper layer and to separate the articles of merchandise of the upper layer from. the articles of merchandise of the lower layer.

The articles of merchandise at are. then placed in the compartments 25, 25 ofthe upper separator unit.

In closing the container the front flap 11 of the cover 9 is inserted between the longitudinal side member 15 of the upper separator'unit and the front wall 3 of the container.

Obviouslythe positions of the separator units may be reversed in the container by placing the units in the container with the shelf member or flap 20 of the lower unit adj acent the back wall 4 and the flap 20 of the upper unit adjacent the front wall 3, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Obviously the separator unit may be made from a single piece of material, in place of several parts suitably secured together, for example, the longitudinal. side member 15 and the shelf member 20 as in the present case could be integral and the flaps 17, and partitions 16 andjthe second side piece 15 .could bemade from a single strip integral with and extending from one end of the part 15*; or the strip could be extended from both ends of the part 15", in the following succes- .sion,'a part 17, a partition'16, and another part 17, with the part 15 extending therebeyond from either one or the other of the last named parts 17, or partly from one of the last named parts 17 and partly from the other thereof, being suitably joined to complete the side member 15 when the separator is finished. e

I claim:

1. A separator unit, for use in a container, comprising spaced side members, transverse members connecting said spaced side members and a shelf member extending part-way across the separtor unit'from one of said side members toward the other thereof 2. A separator unit, for use in a container, comprising spaced side members, transverse members connecting said spaced side members and a shelf member extending part-way across one face of'the separator unit from one of said side members toward the other thereof.

3. A separator unit, for use in a container,

comprising spaced side members, a partition extending across said separator unit from one to the other of said side members, and a shelf member extending part-way across one face of the separator unit fromone of said side members toward the other thereof.

4. A separator unit, for use in a container, comprising spaced side members, a plurality of spaced partitions extending across said separator unit from one to the other of said side members, and a shelf member extending part-way across one face of the separator unit 'fromone of said side members toward the other thereof.

.the partition members at one side of the unit,

and a longitudinal member extending from one edge of the shelf member toward the opposite face of the unit.

7. The combination with a container having a bottom and side walls extending upwardly therefrom, of apair of separator units each comprising a pair of side members respectively located adjacent a pair of oppositely disposed side walls of the container, and shelf members extending respectively part-way across the containers'in opposite directions from one of the side members of each separator unit toward the other side member of the respective unit intermediate the bottom of the container and the top edges of the side walls thereof.

8. The combination with a container having a bottom and side walls extending up wardly therefrom, of a pair of separator units each comprising a pair of side members respectively located adjacent a air of oppositely disposed side walls of t e container, and shelf members extending respectively part-way across the containers in opposite directions from one of the side members of each separator unit-toward the other side member of the respective unit intermediate the bottom of the container and the'top edges of the side Walls thereof and substantially parallel to the bottom of said container.

9. The combination with a container having a bottom and side walls extending upwardly therefrom, of a pair of separator units each comprising a pair of side members respectively located adjacent a pair of oppositely disposed side walls of the container, a partition extending from one to the other of said side members, and shelf members extending respectively part-Way across the containers in opposite directions from one of the side members of each separator unit toward the other side member of the respective unit intermediate the bottom of the container and the top edges of the side walls thereof.

10. The combination with a container having a bottom and side walls extending up warclly therefrom, of a pair of separator units each comprising a pair of side members respectively located adjacent a pair of oppositely disposed side walls of the container, a plurality of spaced partitions extending from one to the other of said side members, and shelf members extending respectively partway across the containers in opposite directions from one of the side members of each separator unit toward the other side member of the respective unit intermediate the bottom of the container and the top edges of the side walls thereof.

11. The combination with a container having a bottom and side walls extending upwardly therefrom, of a pair of separator units, each of which comprises a partition extending substantially from one side wall of the container to an oppositely disposed side wall thereof, and a shelf member extending partway across the container from one end of the partition toward the other end thereof, the shelf members of the palr f separator units being located in line with each other and extending from the said oppositely disposed walls of the container toward the center thereof and together forming a complete shelf disposed intermediate the bottom of the container and the top edges of the side walls thereof.

12. The combination with a container having a bottom and side walls extending up wardly therefrom, of a pair of separator units, each of which comprises a plurality of spaced partitions extending substantially from one side wall of the container to an oppositely disposed side wall thereof, and a shelf member extending part-way across the container from one end of the partition toward the other end thereof, the shelf members of the pair of separator units being locatedv in line with each other and extending from the said oppositely disposed walls of the container toward the center thereof and together forming a complete shelf disposed intermediate the bottom of the container and the top edges of the side walls thereof.

13. The combination with a container having a bottom and side walls extending upwardly therefrom, of a pair of separator units, each of which comprises a plurality of spaced partitions extending substantially from one side Wall of the container to an oppositely disposed side wall thereof, a shelf member extending part-way across the container from one end of the partition toward the other end thereof, the shelf members of the pair of separator units being located in llll 

